Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

88: Chapter 88 The Tycoons Being ManipulatedIn an auxiliary conference room on the east side of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the carved wooden windows were tightly shut, sealing out both the sunlight and the clamor from outside.

Inside, over a dozen Cabinet Ministers sat around a long rosewood table; the air was permeated with a faint scent of washi paper, yet it could not mask the anxiety and calculation in their words.

”That 1 billion USD security fee cannot possibly come entirely from the national treasury.”

The Minister of Finance pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his tone clearly conveying his predicament.

”This year’s budget has already been approved; national defense, education, healthcare... none of these can be touched. If we force a reallocation, next year’s livelihood projects will have to be halted.”

His words were like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly creating ripples.

The ministers nodded in agreement one after another, their brows locked in worry—

The emptiness of the national treasury was an open secret; they had already been living beyond their means to deal with the destruction caused by the Black Organization and the ”protection fees” for the U.S. military. Now, having to come up with another 1 billion USD was tantamount to cutting off one’s own flesh to patch a wound.

”But the U.S. military is pressing hard. General White said that if they don’t see the money within a week, they will reassess the base’s ’defense level’.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs pulled a long face. Everyone understood the subtext of these words—the so-called ”reassessment” was merely an excuse to extort more money.

The conference room fell into a brief silence, with only the ticking of the clock echoing in the spacious room, making everyone feel tense.

Everyone was calculating, but no one was willing to speak up first—everyone knew that no matter where this money came from, it would touch someone’s interests, and a slight misstep could bring disaster upon themselves.

Just then, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised his head, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

He tapped his fingers gently on the table, making a rhythmic ”tok-tok” sound, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: ”Gentlemen, have we forgotten? The ’masters’ of this country are not just us officials.”

Everyone was stunned and looked at him with confusion.

The smile on the face of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry deepened, but his tone suddenly became serious:

”Who is our government working so hard for? It’s those Zaibatsu hiding in high-rise buildings, those entrepreneurs who have made a fortune relying on national stability, and even more so, the citizens who enjoy the dividends of public security! Now that the country is in trouble, shouldn’t they also ’contribute’ a little?”

”Contribute?”

The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare frowned, ”Do you mean... to impose taxes on the public? But having just experienced suppression by the U.S. military, raising taxes again will likely trigger even greater chaos.”

”Who said anything about the public?”

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry sneered, a flash of cunning in his eyes, ”How much money could the public possibly have? The real fat meat is in the hands of those Zaibatsu. Suzuki, Ooka, Tanaka... which one of them isn’t wealthier than the nation itself? They usually make a fortune relying on favorable government policies, so now that the country needs money, shouldn’t they do their part?”

Once these words were spoken, the conference room fell silent, and the ministers’ expressions changed.

Asking the Zaibatsu for money? This was a bold idea—those Zaibatsu had deeply entrenched roots; they not only controlled the country’s economic lifeline but were also the ”patrons” of many Cabinet Ministers. Touching their interests was tantamount to pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth.

”This... isn’t that a bad idea?”

A minister from the faction supported by the Tanaka Zaibatsu spoke hesitantly, his tone filled with trepidation, ”After all, everyone has... connections behind them. If we push them too hard, I’m afraid it will backfire.”

His words voiced everyone’s inner thoughts.